Dr Elizabeth Streten

Biography

Elizabeth Streten completed her PhD at the Queensland University of Technology, undertaking qualitative empirical research that identified a significant disconnect between the legal frameworks and regulatory design of corporate insolvency and their implementation in real-world practice. Her research has demonstrable impact beyond academia, including in national and international written publications, podcasts, and presentations, including to regulators such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Elizabeth participated by invitation in the Queensland Productivity Commission roundtable on Finance, Insurance and Investor Confidence to inform development of its Final Report and her jointly written submissions to that inquiry were cited in both the interim and final reports for the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Australia’s construction industry. Elizabeth continues to engage in public policy, including with her upcoming appearance at a public hearing for a federal government inquiry. Her professional standing is further reflected in her 2026 appointment as an expert member of the Bankruptcy Trustee Registration and Disciplinary Committee.

Elizabeth maintains an active and impactful research profile, including the publication of a monograph and scholarship in leading academic and professional outlets focused on insolvency law, regulatory design, and the operation of legal frameworks in practice. She is also a recipient of competitive research funding, with projects on residential construction insolvency and insolvency and climate change. These projects examine systemic insolvency risk, regulatory responses, and emerging duties in practice:

• Residential construction insolvency project: https://research.qut.edu.au/centre-for-justice/projects/residential-construction-insolvency-systemic-risks-and-policy-reform-for-a-more-resilient-sector/
• Climate change and insolvency project: https://research.qut.edu.au/law-research/projects/climate-change-new-duties-and-liabilities-in-insolvency/

Elizabeth has a strong track record in professional and international legal education. She has delivered insolvency and restructuring education to global practitioners through INSOL International, delivered accreditation training within the Law Society of New South Wales Specialist Accreditation Program, and teaches across undergraduate law units, and programs, including contract law for non-lawyers, broadening legal understanding for professionals outside the discipline. Extending her international engagement, she has been invited to deliver training for practitioners and arbitrators in Bhutan in 2026.

Within the university and broader professional community, Elizabeth is committed to student development and scholarly leadership. She facilitates LLB Help Me at QUT, supporting student learning and transition into legal practice. She also serves on the editorial committee of the International Insolvency Review, and served for 5 years as inaugural chair and committee member of the INSOL I-read Student Newsletter editorial committee. Elizabeth served some eight years on the INSOL International ERA sub-committee and is now a committee member of the INSOL International Academic Steering Committee. Elizabeth is also a member of the QUT Humans, Technology and Law Centre and its committee.  In these roles, Elizabeth actively supports academics, particularly early career academics, students and professionals.

Elizabeth comes from over a decade practicing as a lawyer in commercial litigation and insolvency, including appearances across State and Federal Courts and as instructing solicitor in the High Court of Australia. Elizabeth has significant professional experience in insolvency litigation, banking litigation and commercial litigation together with general commercial law, gained through her position as a Senior Associate at Thynne & Macartney Solicitors.

Previous Appointments Young Committee (Qld) Member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association (formerly known as the Insolvency Practitioners' Association of Australia) 2009  - Committee Member of the International Women's Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (Qld) 2006 onwards -  Law Mentor in the QUT Career Mentor Scheme